Wellington hosts Four Nations climax

Whangarei, Dunedin and
Wellington have early opportunities to show they’re ready
for 2017 Rugby League World Cup fixtures, when they host
games in this year’s Four Nationstournament.

New Zealand
Rugby League will stage three clashes in the international
showpiece, including the final at Westpac Trust Stadium on
November 15.

The NZ Kiwis face a Pacific Island team –
either Fiji or Samoa – at Whangarei’s Toll Stadium on
November 1 and England at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on
November 8.

They will kick off their campaign against
archrivals Australia in Brisbane on October 26, as a
curtainraiser to England taking on the Pacific
champions.

“Bearing in mind we will be co-hosting the
World Cup with Australia in four years, this is a great
opportunity for us to show our capability,” says NZRL
chief executive Phil Holden. “But it’s also a huge
challenge, both on and off the field.

“On one front, we
may be up against the other three semifinalists from last
year’s World Cup, with England, in particular, itching to
avenge their semifinal loss to us at Wembley.

“And then
we’re looking for Wellingtonians to show their passion for
rugby league and support what promises to be a memorable
final.

“Auckland has already shown it’s ready for
major World Cup fixtures, after successfully hosting the NRL
Nines. Wellington prides itself as a sporting Mecca and
we’re confident local fans can also support an
international spectacle of this calibre.”

Tickets will
go on sale next month. Sign up to the NZRL database here to register for pre-sale
information.

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